Joan and Keith's Travels: Alcan Highway

Alcan Highway

The Alaska Highway (also known as the Alaskan Highway, Alaska-Canadian Highway, or ALCAN Highway) was constructed during World War II for the purpose of connecting the contiguous United States to Alaska through Canada. It begins at the junction with several Canadian highways in Dawson Creek, British Columbia, and runs to Delta Junction, Alaska, via Whitehorse, Yukon. Completed in 1942 at a length of approximately 1,700 miles (2,700 km), as of 2012 it is 1,387 mi (2,232 km) long. The difference in distance is due to constant reconstruction of the highway, which has rerouted and straightened out numerous sections. The highway was opened to the public in 1948. Legendary over many decades for being a rough, challenging drive, the highway is now paved over its entire length.

An informal system of historic mileposts developed over the years to denote major stopping points; Delta Junction, at the end of the highway, makes reference to its location at "Historic Milepost 1422."It is at this point that the Alaska Highway meets the Richardson Highway, which continues 96 mi (155 km) to the city of Fairbanks. This is often regarded, though unofficially, as the northern portion of the Alaska Highway, with Fairbanks at Historic Milepost 1520. Mileposts on this stretch of highway are measured from Valdez, rather than the Alaska Highway. The Alaska Highway is popularly (but unofficially) considered part of the Pan-American Highway, which extends south (despite its discontinuity in Panama) to Argentina.

Official Group Photo Before We Embark on the ALCAN Highway!

We started the evening with another great dinner!

AND

Crazy Sock Night!

Winners of Crazy Sock Night Were....

Time to Hit The Highway!

There were many Canola Fields all Flowered Out.

We Actually ran into a Herd of Bison along the Road as we Headed North.

They owned the Road - Not Us!

We Stopped at Watson Lake And Managed to Get the Sign Hung During a Monsoon!!!

We Stopped in Teslin, Yukon!

AND

Some Had Smores For The First Time!!!

We Shared the Fire Pit With a Group That was Riding Their Bikes

From Anchorage to Mexico City!

Yes That Mexico City in Mexico!!!
On Our Tours You Meet Some Amazing People.

Sign on the Side of Their Support Vehicle!

This Was An Amazing Bike Organization.
Check Them Out
http://tdaglobalcycling.com/tda-101-information-kit/
TDA Info Kit

North American Epic

start

Anchorage

end

Mexico City

cost

TBA

Difficulty

Far Out Factor

Accommodation

the journey

10,000 km

94 riding days

21 rest days

1 travel days

countries

Canada, USA, Mexico

The Experience

Starting at latitude 61 degrees north, the riders of the North American Epic will head across Alaska and join up with the fabled Alaska or Alcan Highway bound for the Yukon Territory, known as Canada’s land of the Midnight Sun. With minimal human population this first section provides a serene ride and the possibility of viewing the larger animals (moose, bears, caribou, wolves and more) that call the North home. This section ends in Whitehorse alongside the Yukon River where thousands of fortune hunters trekked and sailed to Dawson City during the famous Klondike Gold Rush of the 1890s.
The second section of this epic ride follows close to 1400 km of the Alaska Highway, which was constructed during World War II for the purpose of connecting the contiguous USA to Alaska. Legendary for being a rough, challenging drive, the highway is currently paved over its entire length, although cyclists can expect a few rougher stretches due to construction work and periodic flooding. Riders can also expect more opportunities to see large wildlife, such as buffalo and moose, as they head to a relaxing rest day near the Liard Hotsprings.
In Fort St. John the second section ends and third begins with riders pushing towards the resort towns of Jasper, and a little further down the road, Banff. Riding the world-famous Icefields Parkway past Mt Edith Cavell, the Columbia Icefields and serene Lake Louise it will be hard for cyclists not to stop every kilometer or so to stand in awe of their surroundings. After some rest the group heads out from Banff towards the Canada-USA border. It’s time to seek more open space, more wildlife and less human population. Montana, one of the least-densely populated states, is next on the trip as riders pedal on to Helena.
From Helena to Moab, from the forests of the north to the deserts of the south, riders will watch the landscape change as they begin their ride along the continental divide. The next 2 sections, The Great Divide & Canyonlands, will take riders down the middle of the United States and across the paths of multiple national parks and bucket-list monuments. The route takes you along fabled highways #128, #191 and #163 where the stunning vistas will inspire you. The tour is scheduled so that riders spend their well-deserved rest days near amazing national parks where they can wander among the fins, spires, pinnacles, arches, and balanced rocks that make the area so unique. Carved over the years by the wind and water, Arches National Park & Canyonland National Park inspire a sense of wonder among all who visit. Additional rest days provide the opportunity for a guided tour of Yellowstone Park where riders will likely see herds of bison, fields of hot springs and the world’s most renowned geyser, Old Faithful.
The cyclists’ time in the USA is almost over by the time they reach Yuma, Arizona and suddenly it will be time for another border-crossing. Welcome to Mexico and welcome to the beach! Margaritas, sun and some beach camping will make a fine change for weary riders. A couple weeks down the Baja California peninsula ends in the bustling city of La Paz. From there, riders will take a ferry across to Mazatlan to begin the shortest section of the tour, Beaches & Beer. Five days of riding following the coastline of the Pacific Ocean will leave plenty of time for the cyclists to enjoy seafood, Coronas and tequila in the touristy town of Puerto Vallarta.
Over the final two weeks riders will pedal deeper into the culture of Mexico. As they make their way towards the capital there are plenty of opportunities to explore the country’s history, such as the colonial towns of Guanajuato State, which include the heritage sites of old Guanajuato and San Miguel de Allende. Once we arrive at our final destination, Mexico City, it is time to say goodbye to your new cycling friends and head home with enough memories to last a lifetime.

Yummy!

A Serious Smore Maker!

MMMMM GOOD!

A Satisfied Smile!

OOOOPPS!

Finger Licking Good!

Our Next Stop Was Skagway Where we Went for a Ride on The White Pass Railway.

The Scenery is Beautiful!

While in Skagway - We Took The Fijord Express Boat to Juneau for the Day!

Bald Eagles Are a Very Common Sight Throughout our Entire Tour!

This is the Place to Get Alaskan King Crab Legs.

These Were Fresh From Nome, Alaska!

They Continue to be the BEST We've Ever Had!

We Also Were Able To Re-unite With A Very Good Friend

Now Working in Skagway Who Traveled To Alaska With Us in 2014.

The "Don"

We Continue Heading North!

Arriving in Dawson City!

It IS a Very Scenic Drive Through the Wilderness!

We Had a Great Walking Tour of Dawson City!

Notice The Button Bears!

When We Saw a Bear During Our Travel - The Lucky Person

Was Awarded a Button Bear!!

This is Still A Mining Town!!

Not Much to do in the Winter Here!

We Visited Diamond Tooth Gerties for Some Gambling, a Show and Great Fun!

Welcome to Canada’s First Casino, Diamond Tooth Gerties Gambling Hall!

NEXT---

SOURTOE COCKTAIL!!!

UPDATE: On August 24th the ninth "sour toe" was swallowed. A customer came in, ordered the infamous Sourtoe Cocktail, chugged the drink swallowing toe and all, and slammed down 500 dollars, the fine for swallowing the toe. Luckily the bar had a backup toe in waiting. The fine has since been raised to $2500.

Established in 1973, the Sourtoe Cocktail has become a Dawson City tradition and is exactly what is sounds like: An actual human toe that has been dehydrated and preserved in salt is served in a drink.

According to the story, Yukon local Captain Dick Stevenson found the toe preserved in a jar of alcohol while cleaning a cabin in 1973. After discussing it with friends, Captain Dick preserved and started serving the toe in a "Sourtoe Cocktail" at the Eldorado hotel bar. Thus the Sourtoe Cocktail Club was formed.

The first toe is said to have belonged to a miner and rum runner named Louie Liken, who had his frostbitten appendage amputated in the 1920s. Liken preserved it in a jar of alcohol in his cabin, where Stevenson found it some 50 years later.

Unfortunately, the first toe lasted only seven more years after its discovery. According to the Sourtoe Cocktail Club, "In July 1980, a miner named Garry Younger was trying for the Sourtoe record. On his thirteenth glass of Sourtoe champagne, his chair tipped over backwards, and he swallowed the toe. Sadly, Toe #1 was not recovered."

Since then, seven more toes have been donated to the bar. Number two was given after an amputation due to an inoperable corn; number three was from a victim of frostbite (it was also swallowed accidentally); four was an anonymous toe (later stolen by a hunter); toes five and six were donated by a Yukon old-timer in return for free drinks for his nurses; toe seven was an amputation due to diabetes; and toe eight arrived in a jar of alcohol with the message, "Don't wear open-toe sandals while mowing the lawn."

Today you can still drink the Sourtoe Cocktail (which is still garnished a real toe) and join the club - complete with a proper certificate. The original rules were that the toe must be placed in a beer glass full of champagne, and that the toe must touch the drinker's lips during the consumption of the alcohol before he or she could claim to be a true Sourtoer.

The rules have changed in the past 27 years. The Sourtoe can now be had with any drink, but one rule remains the same: "You can drink it fast, you can drink it slow—but the lips have gotta touch the toe."

Our BRAVE Ones!!